Shelly Decker is helping to revitalise what she sees as a lack of skills amongst plumbing apprentices in her role as both a TAFE teacher and Victorian Building Authority registration examiner.
Four years ago, she began organising inter TAFE plumbing competitions in Victoria to assist motivating & mentoring candidates for the international World Skills challenge. These build on a series of tiered events from regional or state to ultimately crown a national and world plumbing winner.
“I realised at some point that TAFE had stopped the awards system sometime in the nineties, but also that industry had really stopped engaging with plumbing apprentices,” Shelly said.
“Apprentices were not only missing out on honing some crucial skills or creating role models, but they often didn’t know where to go to get tools or knowledge. It’s important we recharge the industry & TAFE connection for apprentices.”
Five years ago, RMIT hosted a World Skills Plumbing Skills Event, but only 2 TAFE’s participated, and only 6 apprentices (out of 8 spots) competed. Shelly discovered as a whole the TAFE sector in Plumbing was struggling, and unable to support WorldSkills. This is where the idea for the Inter TAFE Plumbing Skills Competition was born.
She’s been overwhelmed by the response though from companies and regulators who have gotten behind the competitions.
“We need to heavily decorate and reward these apprentices so they go back and raise awareness in their own TAFE’s and amongst the profession.”
It’s a role Shelly cares about passionately, having watched her plumbing father pick up awards for his skills as she grew up.
“My dad taught me to appreciate plumbing as not only a skilled job, but a crucial one for the health of society. I absolutely love the trade.”
But it hasn’t been easy being a female plumber, one of only a handful who still enter the profession even these days.
“Things have changed a lot in the last 25 years when I was an apprentice, but it’s still not seen as attractive for women. I usually see 1 female apprentice at my TAFE in Holmesglen each year.”
Shelly is equally passionate about copper in plumbing and puts a lot of emphasis on apprentices developing the right skills when working with it.
“You have to develop hands on skills in plumbing. There is a lot of emphasis today on being fast, cutting corners, doing it cheap or digital, but copper is very important in the building and mechanical market and you have to practice it.”
“I believe in quality over quantity and tell apprentices they always need to try their best”
